India to field its best eleven players: Dravid

Kuala Lumpur: Team India will put its best foot forward tomorrow in its first match of the DLF Cup against the West Indies and the side would be fielding its best eleven players in the tie, announced captain Rahul Dravid.

Dravid gave enough hint that despite a few youngsters in the team, he would go for the best eleven capable of giving the team a winning start.

''I can't guarantee that all the youngsters on this tour would be picked for match. But we will give fair chances. We will try. We probably would be playing what we think is going to be our best eleven. On the conditions and wicket we would play the best eleven capable of winning the match,'' he said.

And much would depend on how fast the pitch dries out tomorrow, said Dravid.

''We are using different wicket tomorrow. It looked little damp this evening. We will have a look at it and make one or two selection decisions accordingly. It has got moisture on it, has few cracks too. Selection would depends on how it dries out and what effect that has on the cracks,'' he explained.

West Indies batting floundered in the second half of their innings but Rahul Dravid believes that is not going to affect his decision on batting first or second if he wins the toss.

''If the wicket looks like what it is now batting first won't be a good idea. Batting second wasn't that difficult in the last match too. While batting second also pitch didn't change too much. Also we have to remember we are playing on a new surface tomorrow,'' said Dravid.

The Indian captain is also looking at this series as ideal preparation for Champions Trophy.

''This is good preparation leading to Champions Trophy. We needed some good cricket and we are playing against two very good team. We have to be on top of our game,'' he explained.

Dravid also asserted that his team had overcome the ODi series defeat in West Indies.

''Loss to West Indies is not playing in our mind. That was a long time ago, we have moved on. It's a totally new series. We have learnt lessons from that tour but learning is a constant process.

There is determination and keenness in the side to do well on this tour against all the teams. We got to focus on what we have to achieve this series rather than ponder on success and failure of past,'' said Dravid.

His West Indian counterpart Brian Lara, however, insists that his side has a definite edge, especially after beating the Men in Blue 4-1 in their home series.

''We definitely have the psychological advantage of the win against the Indians,'' said Lara.

''We have been on the park and we know what the pitch is playing like. India hasn't played on this surface yet and that could be advantageous to us. But still it's a game of cricket and the team that plays well would win,'' he added.

West Indies' in-form bat Shivnarine Chanderpaul was worried with the comeback of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

''We all know what Sachin can do. Even though the pitch is doing a bit and has some pace and movement but Sachin can play on any pitch. We have to be careful,'' Chanderpaul said.